Full card report by Jack Heather
Tommy Collins vs Eduardo Valverde
Birmingham’s Tommy Collins survived a first-round knockdown en route to a decision victory on BCB’s ‘Keep Right On’ at the H Suite in Edgbaston.
The welterweight contender hit the canvas in the opener after seasoned South American Eduardo Valverde landed a peach of a left hook.
But the Northfield native rallied in the subsequent rounds and moved to 8-0 after he was declared the 58-56 winner on referee Kev Parker’s scorecard with Ryan Churchill the trainee referee in the ring.
Collins had a stellar career in the unpaid ranks boxing out of Hall Green Boxing Club and secured 17 area titles before turning professional in 2019.
That amateur pedigree was on full display in the middle rounds as ‘Tommy Gun’ landed the cleaner shots to take back control of the contest.
The Nicaraguan-born Valverde now resides in Spain and was making his fifth appearance on British shores.
The 27-year-old most notably took BCB prospect Owen Macauley the distance last year and has only been stopped twice in 14 professional bouts.
Both men continued to land hard shots throughout the six rounds which made for entertaining viewing for those watching live on BCB’s YouTube channel.
But in the end, it was the 25-year-old Collins who, urged on by the support of his hometown crowd, secured his eight-professional win in the main event.
Andrew Robinson vs Serge Ambomo
Redditch’s Andrew Robinson suffered a seventh professional defeat at the hands of Cameroon’s Serge Ambomo on BCB’s ‘Keep Right On’ at the H Suite in Edgbaston.
The upset victory was the opening fight of the night in Birmingham and was available to watch live on BCB’s YouTube channel.
Ambomo floored the former Midlands area champion midway through the third round with a beautiful counter right hand en route to a decision victory from the away corner.
After four hard-fought rounds at super middleweight, Ambombo was declared the 39-37 winner on referee Kev Parker’s scorecard with Ryan Churchill the trainee referee in the ring, securing his tenth professional win.
The 38-year-old Robinson has been a professional for over a decade and surpassed the 200 round mark during this contest but was unable to mark the milestone with a victory.
‘D’Animal’ did have long periods of success, especially with straight shots from range, but he was caught too often throughout the contest to have any real complaints.
Robinson had a much better final round but could not force the knockdowns or stoppage that would have been required at that point.
Ambomo had a decorated amateur career and even represented Cameroon at the 2012 London Olympics at welterweight.
He was one of the seven Cameroonian athletes who famously disappeared from the Olympic village in order to seek asylum in the UK.
Ambomo’s initial asylum application was denied but he was eventually allowed to stay and turned professional shortly after and now lives in Sheffield.
Connor Goodchild vs Petar Alexsandrov
Connor Goodchild moved to 4-0 after he defeated the experienced Petar Alexsandrov over four rounds on BCB’s ‘Keep Right On’ in Birmingham.
The welterweight contest was the second fight on the card at the H Suite in Edgbaston and was available to watch for free, live on BCB’s YouTube channel.
Goodchild was in familiar territory, having won twice previously at the same venue and the 24-year-old secured another dominant points triumph.
The Kings Norton native was making his first appearance in nine months, but you would not have known it as he cruised to a 40-37 victory on referee Kev Parker’s scorecard with Ryan Churchill the trainee referee in the ring.
The hometown hero was not short of support and his fanbase erupted in the first round when he momentarily stunned his eastern European opponent.
But Aleksandrov is a tough operator and held on to see the final bell in his third appearance on BCB shows in as many weeks.
The 25-year-old lost a decision to Liam Gould last time out but more impressively, took undefeated prospect Shannon Willey to a draw at the start of the month.
Goodchild allowed for no such result as he dominated proceedings from the opening bell and tamed the potentially dangerous Alexsandrov.
Jarrett Doherty vs Vasif Mamedov
Birmingham’s Jarrett Doherty secured his fourth professional victory on BCB’s ‘Keep Right On’ as he bested 41-fight veteran Vasif Mamedov over four rounds.
The 33-year-old had his Azerbaijani opponent down in the third round after he landed a straight right hand that took Mamedov off his feet.
But the Bordesley Green native could not force a maiden professional stoppage despite his best efforts and instead settled for a dominant points win.
It was 60-53 on referee Kev Parker’s scorecard with Ryan Churchil the trainee referee in the ring.
The super middleweight contest was the third fight of the night at the H Suite in Birmingham and was available to watch for free, live on BCB’s YouTube.
Doherty has made no secret of his ambition for titles and has his sights set on securing a shot at the midlands area title next.
Lewis Morris vs Liam Richards
Lewis Morris had no issues on his first outing over six rounds as he bested the experienced Liam Richards on BCB’s ‘Keep Right On’ at the H Suite in Edgbaston.
Morris moved to 6-0 in the penultimate contest live on BCB’s YouTube and ran out the 60-54 victor on referee Kev Parker’s scorecard with Ryan Churchil the trainee referee in the ring.
The Walsall native won every round in the lightweight contest but was unable to become only the second person to stop the 98-fight veteran.
The 21-year-old enjoyed a post-fight singalong with his fans as they belted out a rendition of Sweet Caroline after the final bell.
